St. Elisabeth Gasthuis, Former hospital building in Haarlem, Netherlands
St. Elisabeth Gasthuis is a former hospital with a T-shaped structure located in central Haarlem, built between 1897 and 1904. The complex features a hospital wing alongside an impressive neo-gothic chapel that defines the buildings from this period.
The hospital originated in 1581 from a Minnebroers monastery and was relocated to its present location after the Reformation. The neo-gothic expansion in the fin-de-siecle style transformed it into a modern medical facility for its era.
The name honors Saint Elisabeth of Thuringia, a charitable figure whose veneration inspired the hospital's founding. Visitors can still sense this religious heritage through the chapel and architectural details that reflect this spiritual purpose.
The building is now a protected monument best admired from the outside for its architectural details. Its location in the city center makes it easy to reach while exploring historic Haarlem.
The hospital's coat of arms displays three crowns referencing Saint Elisabeth and her ties to Hungarian, Bohemian, and Thuringian rule. This heraldic symbol often escapes visitor notice but reveals much about why the institution received its name.
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